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Joe Rogan Experience - Fight Companion - May 27, 2018

Joe sits down with Eddie Bravo & Brendan Schaub to watch the fights on May 27, 2018.

Joe RoganhostBrendan SchaubguestEddie BravoguestFight Companion Additional Guest (unidentified, likely a comedian friend)guestJoey Diazguest
May 26, 20183h 15mWatch on YouTube ↗

At a glance

WHAT IT’S REALLY ABOUT

Joe Rogan’s Fight Companion Dissects Till–Wonderboy And MMA’s Future

  1. This Fight Companion episode follows Joe Rogan and friends live-watching UFC Liverpool, centered on Darren Till vs. Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. They break down stylistic matchups, weight-cut drama, and what a Till win means for the UK MMA scene. Along the way, they dive into broader topics: judging and stand‑ups, the UFC’s ESPN move, combat jiu-jitsu rules, nicknames, comedy, and even stem cells and travel stories. The show is part live fight analysis, part long-form hangout between comics, coaches, and hardcore fight nerds.

IDEAS WORTH REMEMBERING

5 ideas

Missing weight is a massive but under-policed advantage.

Rogan and co. note fighters who miss weight are undefeated that year, calling it a de facto form of cheating because they avoid the hardest part of the cut yet still fight, arriving more hydrated and powerful.

Wonderboy’s karate style neutralizes aggression but can produce low-action fights.

They explain how Thompson’s long, sideways stance, distance management, and counters make aggressive strikers walk into traps—great for winning but tough for highlight finishes, especially versus elite opponents like Woodley and Till.

Darren Till’s upside is huge, but his game still has unknowns.

The crew loves his confidence, striking, and star potential for the UK, but wants to see him against elite wrestlers/grapplers (Woodley, Covington, Usman, RDA) before declaring him a future dominant champion.

Judging and stand-up decisions are still a major structural problem in MMA.

They criticize inconsistent scoring, overemphasis on takedowns and “octagon control,” and some egregious stand-ups from strong grappling positions, arguing it disincentivizes real jiu-jitsu and distorts results.

Alternative formats like combat jiu-jitsu can expose what really works in fights.

Eddie Bravo outlines why he added slaps and upkicks: to force engagement, punish unrealistic positions, and “keep jiu-jitsu honest” by making practitioners respect strikes while grappling.

WORDS WORTH SAVING

5 quotes

Missing weight, it’s a form of cheating. If you do it on purpose, for sure.

— Joe Rogan

If you beat Wonderboy and you knock out Wonderboy…it’s off to the races. UK is on, man.

— Brendan Schaub

Combat jiu-jitsu keeps your jiu-jitsu honest. Don’t get too crazy off the beaten path.

— Eddie Bravo

You can’t give yourself a nickname. It doesn’t work that way.

— Joe Rogan

This is what happens when a person takes pro-athlete discipline and applies it to stand-up.

— Joe Rogan, on Brendan Schaub

Technical breakdown of Darren Till vs. Stephen “Wonderboy” ThompsonWeight-cut issues, missing weight, and competitive advantageFuture of the UFC: ESPN deal, Fight Pass, rankings, and matchmakingJudging criteria, stand-ups, and rule differences (MMA vs. combat jiu-jitsu)Welterweight division landscape: Woodley, RDA, Covington, Usman, etc.Nicknames, fighter branding, and personalities (Till, CM Punk, Cyborg, Nick Newell)Stand-up comedy careers, The Comedy Store scene, and podcast-era promotion

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